Soccergurl1990: Well, HELEN won't change her mind (Elastigirl will). But there will be a decent problem, until I let them live together in peace, I promise.

TiJil: I worried if the charas were OOC. Thanks for your review, I'll try to write further believable.

Disclaimer: The Incredibles don't belong to me.

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Chapter 2: Enemy in my head

Elastigirl gritted her teeth as a bullet hit her at the leg. Thanks to Edna Modes supersuit she was not injured, but it did hurt nonetheless. But anyhow the bank robber had shot at her. If he had been cleverer, then he would have taken somebody hostage. She evaded the following bullets by pressing herself flat against the wall. When she saw sudden fright in his face, because he had shot his gun empty, she grinned, separated from the wall and knocked him down with a blow to the jaw at a distance of ten metres.

„That's enough!"

The superheroine bit her lip. The second bank robber had aimed his gun at a trembling bank employee. That was not good. She was fast, but not faster than a bullet. She needed to find a way to outwit the guy... only how?

"Hands up!", the gangster instructed. He looked frightened and didn't dare to avert his eyes from her, although he had to pay attention to the hostage too. "No funny business or the man is dead!"

She did not have a choice. The superheroine lifted her hands and looked around. No, no chance. If the bad guy would only look away for one second, then she could overwhelm him. But he kept an eye on her, even if his hand trembled. He would shoot.

„And what do you want to do now?"

Elastigirl cursed. This voice in her head didn't intend to leave her alone! The face of the gangster seemed to blur, to become broader. The ski cap he was wearing disappeared, only a small black mask stayed. Short blond hair completed the sneering face of Mr. Incredible.

„Do you not know what to do anymore, little girl?", he asked tauntingly.

„Leave me alone", she whispered and closed her eyes for a second. When she opened them again, the illusion had disappeared and the bank robber looked at her alertedly.

"I said, no funny business!", he shouted. „What...?"

„This is the police of Metroville speaking", a booming megaphone-intensified voice pervaded the air. „The building is surrounded. Give up!"

The bank robber winced and his head moved to the side just for one second, but that was all time Elastigirl needed. Her arm stretched and pushed the gangster's arm with the weapon aside. He fired a shot, but the stray bullet only hit the wall. Immediately her other fist collided with the face of the gangster and knocked him out. He fell to the ground unconsciously.

The superheroine breathed again and transformed her arms back to their normal length. She hardly realized that a special unit of the police stormed the bank because of the shot. She accepted a few congratulations, but answered no questions, which she was asked by policemen and reporters. She was much to lost in thoughts. She edged her way through the crowd until she reached the entrance, used her elasticity to grab a fire ladder and hurled herself up onto a rooftop. The reporters were disappointed for sure, but she didn't feel like answering their questions right now. Mr. Incredible probably hadn't been that wrong about them...

Mr. Incredible! She gritted her teeth while she was jumping onto another rooftop, using her arms as lassos. Since their discussion the guy had sticked in her mind. Each time, when she was hunting a criminal, she got reminded either of his voice or his face. This was driving her crazy! If these symptoms didn't alleviate, then she would attack him enervatedly the next time she saw him!

But why was she constantly thinking of him? She had hoped that she would dream about Bob after their fantastically romantic date, but instead she was reminded on this arrogant know-it-all everywhere. That had to be because of the bet. Because of this stupid bet she could not work any longer intently! This... visions could endanger her and others. She had to find a way to think straight again!

Perhaps she would simply need a break? Elastigirl decided to break off work a little earlier today and sleep late at home. If she took it more easy it in the next few days, then these visions would probably vanish until her next date with Bob. She smiled, when she remembered their common evening. She had been so amused that Bob had hardly been able to hide his nervousness. But nothing had gone wrong, it had been a wonderful evening indeed. He had made her laugh so many times, even if he had been reserved and tactful the whole time. She was so glad that he did not only pretend to be the nice guy, but was really one of the few ones. He was really...

"Is the little girl falling in love?", Mr. Incredibles sneering voice suddenly sounded in her head. She was so surprised that she nearly would have failed to hold onto a wall, but she just managed to take hold with her second hand. She breathed quickly for a minute in order to calm down again, then she went home as fast as possible. She needed relaxation even more acute than she had thought.

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"Can I help you, Sir?"

Bob looked around and noticed the young woman, who had approached him eager-seeming. Actually he had just come across this jeweler, but this pearl necklet would fit like wax to Helens neck. Though the price was exorbitant, he had been completely sure since their last date, that Helen was worth the money. He remembered her face and smiled.

"You can", he answered. "I am interested in..."

"Shouldn't you actually be at work?"

Bob hastily cocked his head and looked around saucer eyed. He had recognized Elastigirls voice immediately, however he couldn't see her anywhere. As in each city countless people were walking along the streets, but there was no doubt that he would have seen the superheroine, if she had been nearby.

"Is something wrong?", the young lady asked anxiously. "Aren't you well?"

Bob shook his head and looked at her apologizing. "No, no, I am fine, thank you", he affirmed. But he looked around nervously just to be sure, that there was no one watching him. "I just thought, that I heard someone I know. I am interested in this pearl necklet."

„A very good choice, Sir", the young woman annotated beamingly. "Please come in, then you can consider it in all its aspects."

While Bob followed her into the shop, he considered the incident worriedly. He had broken off work sooner than he did normally, because he had been diverted constantly in the last days... he had suddenly seen Elastigirl everywhere, who seemed to wave at him mocking, or he had heard her voice. In the beginning he had believed that these visions would vanish soon, but as he had not gotten better, he had broken off work. If he was unconcentrated as a superhero, then he would put people at risk, who he was trying to save, and he couldn't permit that.

That had to be connected with the bet. He nearly regretted now, that he had suggested this contest, but how should he have known about the consequences... that he would be forced to see mirages of this cheeky little girl everywhere? Probably he came under stress too much, but if he took a day off, he would get better soon again... he hoped.

"Here you are, Sir", the shop assistant jolted him out of his dreams and gave him the pearl necklet. "This is really one of our most magnificent pieces. Is it a gift for your girlfriend?"

"My girlfriend?", Bob repeated. He smiled, as Helens face appeared in front of his mind's eye. She had looked so beautiful at their date.. and she apparently had enjoyed being together with him. Many girls had been attracted to him just because of his well-built body, but most of them had been disappointed as they had noticed that he was a settled character in his private life. There was more than enough excitement in his life as a superhero!

"Yes... I think, she's my girlfriend indeed."

He closed his eyes and imagined the pearl necklet around Helens neck. In his fantasy she looked like a princess and embraced him overjoyed. His mental image seemed so real, that he believed that he could feel the warmth of her skin. Helen released him, pulled his face down to hers and kissed him. A beaming smile lighted up his face in reality as he cherished the daydream. She was simply perfect. There was no other word to describe her. His lips separated from hers.

"You're a fast worker, aren't you, cutie?", the mocking voice of Elastigirl did suddenly sound in his head again. He got terribly frightened as he noticed, that the superheroine had taken up Helens station in his dream. She removed her gloved hand from his neck, grinned at him impudently and touched the pearl necklet, which was hanging around her neck now. "That thing suits me well, don't you think so?"

„No!", Bob cried out and opened his eyes abruptly. He dropped the pearl necklet and stumbled back, as if it had transformed into a snake. His face showed a hounded expression, which seemed to scare the shop assistant. Bob took a deep breath. The young woman did not dare to lift a finger, while Bob calmed down slowly. Without a doubt she believed, that he had gone nuts. Well, maybe he should start believing it too.

He breathed out a last time and pulled himself together. He bent down and carefully picked the pearl necklet up. Fortunately it was not damaged. Slowly he handed it to the shop assistant, who took it nervously. He smiled excusatory.

"I'm sorry", he apologized. "I think, I need some time to decide. Please lay it away for me."

The young woman seemed to be relieved, as he left the shop. Well, who could resent her for this? He definitely had to gain control of these hallucinations until next Friday. Helen mustn't become aware of them!

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"That was a wonderful evening, Bob", Helen whispered, while she was going upstairs to her apartment nestled to Bobs arm.

"I'm glad you enjoyed yourself", Bob answered smiling and ran the fingers of his free through her hair. He had enjoyed their date too, even if he had been rather nervous the most time. He had reckoned with difficulties, more precisely his hallucinations, but fortunately Helen had remained Helen this time. Her beauty seemed to be more powerful than each delusion. "I cannot imagine something more pleasant than spending an evening with you."

"What about the night?" Helen giggled as Bob convulsed his body abruptly. "That was just a joke, Bob", she soothed his nerves amusedly. "You are so cute."

"I wouldn't mind spending the night with you", Bob answered seriously. They reached Helens front door and stopped. "However I am afraid, that I wouldn't get a wink of sleep. You cannot demand sleeping like a log of me so close to such a beautiful woman."

Suddenly Helen threw her arms around Bobs neck, pulled him down to her face and kissed him tenderly. Bob closed his eyes, put his hands around her waist and returned the kiss. In this moment they didn't care if somebody opened the door and saw them. At last Helen separated from him.

"You are much too good for this world, Bob", she whispered and stroked his cheek. "What have I done to be worthy of you as a reward?"

"I am overjoyed, that a goddess like you condescended to go out with me", Bob answered smiling and put his hand under her chin gently. "This evening was the most enjoyable in my life."

Helen suddenly became serious. "Is that true, Bob?", she asked. "You seemed to me like someone, who was worried about something." She took his hand and squeezed it lightly. "Does something oppress you?"

"What could possibly oppress me, when I am together with you?" Bob tried to dissemble, that he had been nervous indeed, and smiled at her. "You are imagining things, Helen."

"No, I don't think so", she answered. "Please tell me... is it something I did or said?"

Bob realized, that he could not evade the topic any longer. He sighed. "Helen, you are the best, that ever happened to me. You are not the reason."

"And what IS the reason then?"

Yes, what was the reason? He couldn't say, that he had dreamed of another woman, a superheroine on top of that! He scratched his head and bothered him about a believable excuse.

"You know, it is... this colleague. She is rather annoying..."

"She?", Helen asked squinty.

Bob looked at her pitifully. "Helen, how often do I still have to say, that there is no girl except you? This colleague drives me crazy. She is snappish, very self-absorbed and she thinks, that she can do everything better than I can." He smiled at her. "I am hardly able to bear with her. If you were not here, my life would be hell."

Helen looked at him distrustfully for another moment, but then she smiled and relaxed. "Thank you that you told me", she said. She caressed his hand. "Believe me, I know exactly, how you feel. I had been referred to a new colleague too a few days ago. The chap is an intolerable know-it-all, into the bargain he thinks, that I am much too young for my job and he is jealous, because I am more popular than he is." She smiled grimly. "He considers himself as a god, but I will show him soon, that I am better than him!"

"I wouldn't like to be in his shoes", Bob commented. "What's your job actually?" Was he only imagining things or had Helen looked frightened for a short moment?

"What my job is? Uh, you know, I... am a reporter. Still a trainee, nothing to be proud of." She grinned, although she had been scared stiff. "Who knows, maybe I'll have to interview you at work, when I get a steady job. Where do YOU actually work?"

Bobs winced slightly. "Oh, I don't think so", he replied evasive. I HOPE you won't, he thought. "I am just... a security agent, you know." He flexed his muscles. "My boss thinks, that my appearance puts the most rogues off." That was not even a lie.

"He may be right", Helen agreed. She came closer and caressed his mighty biceps with her small hand. "However it does not put me off." She smiled at him lovingly.

"You place me in a dilemma", Bob whispered and bent down slowly. "It seems, that I can do nothing to... keep... you... away..."

Their lips met in another tender kiss, which ended way too soon according to Bob.

"That's all?", he asked disappointedly.

"Do you promise to invite me on another date?", Helen asked teasingly.

"With pleasure."

"Well, then..."

The following kiss lasted longer. Much longer.